MIRI: More humanitarian assistance is required by the 119 fire victims of Rumah Sanjan, Ulu Niah, who lost almost everything when fire destroyed their longhouse last Monday.Tuai Rumah Sanjan Jangan said most of the victims were putting up in makeshift huts erected underneath the spared ladders of the burned longhouse.

He said although they had received help from various people, including  RM35,000 from Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and RM10,000 from the Assistant Minister for Health Dr Stephen Rundi and Mercy Malaysia, a lot more need to be done.

The fire happened at about 3pm, and fortunately no one was injured in the incident.

Sanjan, when interviewed by The Borneo Post at his village yesterday, said the most pressing need was to have decent tents while waiting for grants from the government to rebuild their longhouse.

“We are thankful that so far, we have received humanitarian aid from the Welfare Department, including five water tanks and food to last two weeks, several donations from associations and Mercy Malaysia.

“What we need urgently are proper tents and medical treatments as some of us are sick. We are located very far from medical facilities,” he stressed.

Rumah Sanjan is located about  3-hour drive from Miri City, including two hours on gravel roads through oil palm estates.

The village, set up in 1992, had never known clean water supply and electricity.

Meanwhile, five volunteers and staff of Mercy Malaysia (Sarawak Chapter), led by their acting head Jennie Soh, visited the fire victims yesterday to hand over humanitarian aid worth RM4,500.

Among the items brought in were basic personnel hygiene kits, sarong, sanitary towels, used clothing, food items, buckets and medicine.

“Our effort is only complementary and we hope  more people can come to assist the victims who are mostly general workers of the nearby oil palm estates while the rest are farmers,” she said.

The other four volunteers and staff  of  Mercy Malaysia providing the humanitarian aids were Veronica Wong (treasurer and former Matron of Miri Hospital), Robin Sim (volunteer), Raffaello Wong (volunteer – photographer) and Elizabeth Wee Siew Siew (administrative assistant).

Soh revealed that Mercy Malaysia would be bringing in two doctors, two pharmacists and a dental nurse to help the victims today.

She added that additional assistance worth RM5,000, including medical supplies, mosquito nets and rain coats, would also be brought in for the villagers.

Source: The Borneo Post